Unfortunately, flat-coated retrievers, like most other breeds and even mixed breeds, are susceptible to certain diseases, caused by various factors; from rapid growth and size, to housing and feeding conditions, to the problem of uncontrolled breeding that is destroying the breed.

 

Breeding dogs with a pedigree is based on controlled breeding because it includes dogs that have passed hip and elbow X-rays, and responsible breeders will also take eye and heart scans. Unfortunately, excellent health results of parents, grandparents can also result in the occasional dog that has signs of a genetic disease. Genetic diseases can never be eradicated, nor can it be known where, in which breeding combination, dysplasia will appear, for example, but controlled breeding greatly reduces this. If dysplasia appears in 1 out of 50 bred puppies, that means that it is only 2%, so 98% of the dogs are healthy!! And such dysplasia is not a problem at all. Of course, such a dog should not be bred. The problem is when out of 50 bred puppies, 15 of them have dysplasia, and that is already 30% of the breeding, and the breeder must seriously ask himself where, in which direction he intends to go.

Of course, the breeder can never guarantee that everything will be fine with the dog, because the breeder is NOT GOD , and as much as genetics are responsible for diseases in retrievers, the owner is also responsible, because with proper care, some symptoms can be alleviated, but carelessness, especially during the intensive growth phase when the skeleton is still developing, can significantly harm the puppy's development and accelerate the onset of dysplasia.

 

Flat-coated retrievers are most susceptible to:
- hip dysplasia
- elbow dysplasia
- shoulder dysplasia
- eye diseases

 

Of course, the most common diseases are dysplasia of the hips and elbows, so they are mandatory for the entry of dogs into breeding. Then, eye diseases that are easily diagnosed by examination. Breeding is a long-term business, so the lines are built for the long term.

 

All our dogs have hips (HD), elbows (ED) and eyes before entering breeding!!
...because these are diseases that really greatly impair the health of flat-coated retrievers.